20 things to do in Vancouver this week

Hello blue sky! The sunshine is back, evenings are getting even longer and you’re probably just happy to be basking on Vancouver’s sandy shores.

But in between all the BBQs and beachtime, here are a few more things to do in Vancouver this week – enjoy!

Monday, April 18

Laugh Gallery with Graham Clark!

• What: Watch some of the city’s brightest comics! Graham Clark (Stop Podcasting Yourself) hosts this eclectic show where you get to laugh a lot and you might win a prize!
• Where: Havana Theatre – 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
• When: 9 to 10 p.m.

The Ring Without Words

• What: The VSO will perform an astonishing 75-minute arrangement of all the major orchestral themes in Wagner’s famous four-opera The Ring Cycle.
• Where: The Orpheum – 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver
• When: 8 p.m.

Tuesday, April 19

Paul McCartney

• What: See the Beatles legend on his One on One tour, with a setlist that spans his entire five-decade career, from the Fab Four, through the Wings days to his solo work.
• Where: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
• When: 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

B.A.P.

• What: If South Korean hip-hop is more your style, check out B.A.P. (Best Absolute Perfect) – a six-member boy group on their Live on Earth tour.
• Where: The Orpheum – 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver
• When: 8 p.m.

Nerd Nite

• What: Enjoy a drink as speakers delve into the worlds of food Japafication, the bizarre mating rituals of animals, and the whos, whats, and wheres of photography and love.
• Where: Fox Cabaret – 2321 Main Street, Vancouver
• When: Doors: 7 p.m., Talks: 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20

National Canadian Film Day

• What: Celebrate Canadian Film Day at VIFF with a full day of Canadian films, including Grubstake Remix and Taking Shelter – all screenings before 5 p.m. will be $5!
• Where: VIFF Theatre – 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver
• When: First screening at 11:15 a.m. – last screening at 9:30 p.m.

4/20: Smoke Out Vancouver

• What: Join 10,000 of Vancouver’s marijuana freedom fans on the beach for their annual celebration of cannabis culture.
• Where: Sunset Beach – 1204 Beach Ave, Vancouver
• When: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Oakalla Prison: A Hard Place to do Time

• What: Dozens of riots. Over 800 escapees. Lock yourself up “behind closed doors” and hear Earl Andersen’s disturbing history of B.C.’s most infamous correctional facility.
• Where: Vancouver Police Museum – 240 E Cordova Street, Vancouver
• When: 7 p.m., runs through April 24

RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles

• What: If you can’t get/afford tickets to see Paul McCartney for real, how about this awesome tribute act?
• Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
• When: 7:30 p.m.

A Good Mother

• What: A script-in-hand staging, and the story of a child is left alone in a parked car outside a grocery store. One mother’s sacrifice sets everyone’s lives on a new course.
• Where: Pacific Theatre – 1440 W 12th Avenue, Vancouver
• When: 8 p.m.

Thursday, April 21

Discover Dance! Karen Flamenco

• What: See innovative Vancouver dance company Karen Flamenco perform excerpts from West Side Story, Alice in Wonderland, upcoming new production, Snow White.
• Where: The Dance Centre – 677 Davie Street, Vancouver
• When: Noon to 1 p.m.

An Evening with Nick Bantock

• What: A chat with celebrated author/artist Nick Bantoc, as he releases The Pharos Gate, revealing what finally happened to the lovers in his bestselling Griffin & Sabine novels.
• Where: Alice MacKay Room, Vancouver Public Library – 350 W. Georgia Street, Vancouver
• When: 7:30 p.m.

Spark: Fireside Artist Talk feat. Amanda Strong

• What: Filmmaker, media artist and stop motion director Amanda Strong discusses hierarchy vs. community: remodelling the processes and labels in film and animation.
• Where: Native Education College – 285 East 5th Avenue, Vancouver
• When: 12:15 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Vancouver Welcomes Refugees Forum

• What: Watch speakers from various refugee supporting organizations and refugees themselves share experiences and discuss how to raise awareness in Vancouver.
  
• Where: Will be livestreamed online.
• When: 6 to 9 p.m.

Friday, April 22

World Music Festival

• What: See bands from Mexico, India, Colombia, Nicaragua and Brazil over two nights, in support of The Canucks Autism Network.
• Where: Rio Theatre – 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver
• When: Doors at 6 p.m. Show at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night.

Two Great Choirs

• What: Vancouver’s and Toronto’s famous professional choirs, the Vancouver Chamber Choir and The Iseler Singers, join forces for a night of sumptuous music.
• Where: Ryerson United Church – 2195 West 45th Avenue, Vancouver
• When: 8 p.m.

Chick Corea and Bela Fleck

• What: Master songwriters, musicians and bandleaders Chick Corea and Bela Fleck come together for an evening of piano and banjo duets.
• Where: The Orpheum – 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver
• When: 8 p.m.

Earth Day 2016: Voices of Elders

• What: A night of words, wisdom and comedy, as Kwi Awt Stelmexw and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation explore what reconciliation means for youth, Vancouver and the planet.
• Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
• When: 8 to 11 p.m.

Smooth As Silk

• What: The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra plays the opening concert for the 2016 Sound of Dragon Music Festival, Vancouver’s first festival devoted to Chinese music.
• Where: Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre – 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
• When: 7 p.m.

Happy Hour – A Future We Can’t Afford?

• What: An evening of drinks, discussion and a participatory video booth to find out what young Vancouverites really thinks about affordability in the city.
• Where: Museum of Vancouver – 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver
• When: 6 to 9 p.m.